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Botswana : SAMWU ready and willing to support Botswana workers

D 7 juin 2011     H 04:45     A SAMWU     C 0 messages


SAMWU has sent warm greetings of solidarity for the heroic strike action comrades from Botswana have been undertaking, to secure a living wage for all categories of public sector workers. We have noted the time in which the action had taken place, and applaud the determination, courage and sacrifice that Botswana Public Sector Workers have been prepared to deploy in order to try and secure their completely legitimate demands. This strike is unprecedented in the history of Botswana.

We have noted the negative response of the Presidency to the strikers’ demands, and a willingness to disregard even Cabinet attempts to find a settlement. Coupled with the ban on solidarity marches by political and social movement organisations, and the withdrawal of police permission for a march by workers themselves to be able to freely associate and exercise their civil liberties is a very worrying development indeed. We note that the action by the public sector workers has been marked by being well organised, peaceful and is increasingly supported by the population.

We condemn in the strongest form the detention of one of the leaders of the Botswana Land Boards, Local Authorities and Health Workers Union (BLLAHWU) and all those comrades who were unfairly detained. We advise the authorities to immediately release the comrade from BLLAHWU with immediate effect and desist from such kind of behaviour.

One crucial indicator of a democratic society is a willingness to ensure that the rights of citizens are respected and can be exercised. This is especially the case in terms of the right to organise, even when the purpose is to express opposition to government. A mature democracy understands that the right to protest is in fact a healthy sign of a democratic society, and even when, as in Botswana at this time, it is uncomfortable for government. Popular protest and dissent must be seen not as a threat, but as an essential element of a free and democratic Botswana. Governments who restrict these basic civil liberties, who see trade unions as enemies and not vital social partners, betray both their own democratic credentials, but also contradict ILO Conventions and other international instruments that they have ratified.

We call upon the Government of Botswana to take a step back from confrontation, and acknowledge that the Public Sector Workers have made a great sacrifice to underline their claims, and that it would be in everyone’s interests to begin a positive engagement including negotiations on the demands that the trade unions have submitted. Botswana needs its public sector workers to help steer society towards greater stability and prosperity. It needs a skilled and committed public service, ready to provide the services that the people of Botswana need, but it can only do this if it is in receipt of a living wage.

We congratulate BOFEPUSU, and are ready and willing to provide whatever solidarity we can to ensure that your campaign is a successful one.

Forward to Quality Public Service Forward !

Forward to Properly Paid Public Sector Workers Forward !

Forward to Public Sector Solidarity within and Across National Borders !

Tahir Sema, SAMWU National Media and Publicity Officer 27 May 2011